1From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 29 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment your s of the 28. I thank You, Sir, for your kind Invitation to my three Sons, to come some time in the Spring, and spend a day at Ver sailles, which will be very agreeable to them, and to me. I am happy to find that the Report of the Committee has your Approbation; and shall be very g lad to see it translated and printed as it is. Every Attempt of this kind may be worth...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, 28 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Upon Enquiry I am informed that the Accounts of Public Money for the Year you mentioned are not yet published in England, but will be soon, when I am promised a Copy that shall be at your Service. I return you the Newspaper with many Thanks. I am, Sir, with much Esteem, Your most obedient humble Servant Genet presumably wanted the material for the Affaires...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, 29 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I receiv’d safely the Letters you return’d to me, and am much pleas’d with the Use which I see you have made of them. I wish to receive from London regularly the London Evening Post, and the London Chronicle. If this can be done by your means, without giving you too much Trouble, I shall be much oblig’d to you, and will thankfully repay the Expence. By the Desire of...
4From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 17 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Genl. Con way in his Speech in the House of Commons, on the 6th. of May, affirms that the Alliance between France and the United States is not natural. Whether it is or not, is no doubt a great question. In order to determine, whether it is or no, one should consider, what is meant by a natural Alliance. And I know of no better general Rule than this, when two Nations, have the same Interests...
5From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 7 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Loan of the inclosed Paper. I think there is room to hope that Clinton will meet with a Reception that will not be agreable to him, even to hope that he will not succeed. But there is great danger. The Loss of the Frigates will give an Additional Sting to that of the Town. It is truely deplorable that these Devils should be allowed to commit such Ravages and do Such...
6From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 30 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
As many Gentlemen may apprehend that one is exposed to a shortage of Provisions, especially of Bread in America, from the Difficulty which the French Fleet found at Boston, to obtain a Supply, especially of Bread, I beg Leave to suggest to you, an Observation or two upon that Subject. It would be Sufficient to Say, that the Comte D’Destaing, did, in Fact obtain, a Sufficient Quantity, altho...
7From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 20 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Tha nks for this Paper. Ld George Gordon I think will be the Oliver Cromwell, after all. He seems the only Man of Common sense, and he begins with Religion. Burke, Barry, Fox, Conway, &c and all the rest appear but small Boys to Lord George. RC (Private owner, 1972). Fire damage has resulted in the loss of the first word and possibly the greeting, although the absence of a closing and...
8From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Do you think it worth while to work into your next Article, from London, the following Observation of Lord Bolinbroke? “The precise Point, at which the Scales of power turn, like that of the Solstice, in either Tropic, is imperceptible to common Observation; and, in one case, as in the other, Some progress must be made, in the new direction, before the change is perceived. They who are in the...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, [1778 or after] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress All the American Papers will be sent to Mr Genet this Evening. Mr Franklin sends the enclos’d four, for a Beginning. Addressed: A Monsr / Monsieur Genet / Bureau des Interprêtes / Versailles BF and Genet began exchanging newspapers and other information soon after the signing of the alliance: XXVI , 271n. This note could date from this or subsequent years.
10From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, 1 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I sent some Boston Papers, (as late as the first of October,) last Week, to Mr Vergennes. I suppose you saw them. They contain particular Accounts of the great Harmony between Count D’Estaing’s Fleet & the People of the Country. I never heard of Gen. Washington’s writing such a Letter as you mention, and therefore I believe the Story to be false. I have the honour to...